Speculum



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

M. A. CARRIKER.

SPBOULUM.

No. 552,416. Patented De0.31, 1895.

ANDREW 5.6RAHAM,PHOTO-\IYHQWASHINFI'DEQO.

'( Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. A. GARRIKER.

SPECULUM.

No. 552,415. Patented Dec. 31, 1895.

ANDREW B.GRM1AM PHOTO-LITHO WASHINGTON DC UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAIIACIII A. CARRIKER, OF NEBRASKA CITY, NEBRASKA.

SPECULUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,415, dated December 31, 1895.

Application filed November 2,1894. Serial No. 527,775. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MALAcHI A. CARRIKER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Nebraska City, in the county of Otoe and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Surgical Instrument; and I do declare that the following is a full, clear, and distinct description of my invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains and all persons for whom it is intended to successfully use the same.

The object of my invention is to assist physicians in the successful treatment of catarrhal and ulcerated conditions of the endometrium, cervical canal, os uteri, and malpositions of the uterus and enable patients to more successfully treat said conditions themselves.

The nature of my invention is such that patients can use it as successfully as physi cians for the purposes herein set forth; and my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of an applicator, as will be'hereinafter more fully set forth.

Figure 1 shows the ring-handle, piston-rod, piston, and cap. Fig. 2 represents the sponge, cotton, woolen, or any other elastic pledget, the cord for removing the pledget from the vagina, and point of cord attachment to pledget. Fig. 3 represents said pledget in position on bell-mouth, with point of attachment to pledget upward and at center of it, where and as it must be when passing said pledget through the applicator and the cord passed through belln1outh, cylinder, hollow truncated cone and drawn outside .of applieater through the vertex of a slot of said hollow truncated cone. Fig. 4 represents my invention with part of a section of the hollow truncated cone removed to show piston, pledget, cord attachment to pledget in position for passing applicator through vagina to es uteri. Fig. 5 represents the elastic blades of said hollow truncated cone extended to their required limit, the piston in distal end of said hollow truncated cone, and said pledget as they should appear at os uteri, with said 'cord drawn backward outside of applicator.

The ring-handle N is constructed so that it will receive either finger when in use. Piston-rod O is of such length that piston C will pass beyond distal end T of hollow truncated cone I l and always release pledget D when medicated tablet E is deposited at 0s uteri, and the diameter of piston O is exactly that of the inside of cylinder B, so that said pledget D cannot be caught between piston O and cylinder B nor between distal ends T of elastic blades J of hollow truncated cone II and piston 0 when passing said pledget I) through said applicator. Cap I is constructed without neck or head to shorten length of said applicator. Rim of cap P is narrow, so that two turns will adjust it to bell-mouth I, while threads of cap P are large to give strength to screw U. Bell-mouth I is constructed so that said pledget D can be easily passed through it into cylinder B, which is continuous into a hollow truncated cone H, which consists of concave convex elastic blades J, between which are slots K, the sides of which converge from their bases S to their vertices T.

The hollow truncated conel'l is constructed so that the elastic blades J which form it approximate at their vertices T, and the hollow truncated cone H is thus constructed so that it can be introduced into and passed through the vaginal canal with the least possible resistance; and the blades J of said hollow truncated cone II are made to be elastic, so that they can be extended parallel with the sides of cylinder B, and thus permit piston O to drive pledget D and medicated tablet E through the hollow truncated cone H, Fig. 5, and when the piston C has been withdrawn the elastic blades J return to their natural positions, re-forming said hollow truncated cone H, Fig. 4, while the object of the said elastic blades J approximating at their vertices T, Figs. 3 and 4, is so that they will not catch and pinch the vaginal mucous membrane between them when the applicator is passing through the vagina to es uteri. The use of the cord F is to remove said pledget D from os uteri, while the object of the elastic pledget D is to retain the medicated tablet E against 0s uteri to absorb catarrhal discharges or for a uterine pessary;

To use my speculum, take pledget D and pass the free end of cord F down through bell-1nouth I, Fig. 3, cylinder B, hollow truncated cone H. Then place said pledget D on bell-mouth I, so that cord F, attached to said pledget D, will be on. the upper side and in center of said pledget D at point G and pass outward over top and downward over edge of said pledget D, so that Q will be exactly on a line with any slot K. Then with fingers and thumb carefully and evenly press said pledget I) down through. said bell-mouth I, cylinder 13, and into upper part of said hollow truncated cone ll just far enough so that the clastic blades J of said hollow truncated cone it do not separate at their Yertices T, Fig. 4. Then make traction on cord F at point B un til slack is taken out. Then bring said cord 1" outside of said truncated. cone ll through the vertex T of any slot K'that is exactly on. a line with Q, so that cord 1: takes the direction. M. Next place piston (J on said pledget I), adjust cap 1, Fig. r. Then put medicated tablet E through any slot K flat against the distal side of said pledget D, lJig. it. Then lubricate said truncated cone l[ and pass the applicator, Fig. 4, through the vaginal canal to es uteri, drive piston O to distal end T of said hollow truncated cone ll, which will place medicated tablet E in position at os uteri with pledget D against it, Fig. 5. When the medicated tablet and pledget I) have been placed in position at the 0s uteri take hold of cap P, Fig. 5, and draw the instrument backward one inch, the piston C backward two inches, then withdraw the speculum from vaginal canal.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and original, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A surgical speculum in substantially cone shape, having its walls for a portion of its length longitudinally divided to form flexible conca'vo-convex separate blades or leaves normally approximating at their apiccs.

2. A speculum, consisting of the hollow cylinder 13, having a threaded bell-shaped mouth, and eoi'icavo-convex elastic blades J, approximating at their vertices T, substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

3. A speculun'i, consisting of the hollow cylinder, provided. with a bell-shaped mouth, and concave-convex elastic blades, approximating at their vertices, substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

4-. A speculum, consisting of the hollow cylinder ll," having a threaded bell-shaped mouth, and eoncavo-convex elastic blades J, approximating at their vertiees T; perforated and threaded cap l, screwing onto the mouth of the cylinder; piston rod (),working through the perforation of the cap 1, and provided with ring handle N, and concave-convex piston O, substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

5. A speculum, consisting of the hollow cylinder, having a bell-shaped mouth and concavoconvex elastic blades, approximating at their vertices; perforated cap fittin g over the mouth of said cylinder; a piston rod working through the perforation in said cap, and provided with a suitable handle and piston, substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto affixed my signature, this 9th day of October, 1804, in the presence of two witnesses.

M. A. CARRIKER.

\Vitnesses:

ll. G. LEIGH, 0. A. BRANDT. 

